“As Members of Congress who support the investment in the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes region, we respectfully request that you include sustained funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as you finalize the Fiscal Year 2012 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill.”

The letter points out that the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $50 million dollar increase for the program in July, bringing the fiscal year 2012 funding level to $300 million. The Senate’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding recommendations is also at $300 million for the current fiscal year.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has supported the efforts of U.S. House and Senate leaders to maintain restoration funding. Responding to the letter from Great Lakes lawmakers, Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the coalition said:

“The Great Lakes congressional delegation has been instrumental in making Great Lakes restoration a national priority. The letter led by Reps. Sandy Levin (Mich.), John Dingell (Mich.) and Louise Slaughter (N.Y.) underscores the bi-partisan and continuing support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is essential to protect and restore the Lakes that supply drinking water to more than 30 million people. This restoration effort is producing results, but there is more to do. If we cut funding now, it will only cost more later because projects will be harder and more expensive the longer we wait.”

Signatories to the letter deserve a huge thanks for continuing to make restoration a national priority.

Here’s the list of signatories by state. If your member signed on to the letter, please thank him or her. If not, let your representative know how important the Great Lakes are to you – and that you expect their support!